he was first elected to congress in 1998. he serves on a subcommittee of help, select revenue measures in the subcommittee on ways and means, as well as being the ranking member on the subcommittee on terrorism, counterintelligence, and the subcommittee on oversight, all within the select committee on intelligence. congressman thompson is a combat veteran. he was a staff sergeant platoon leader in vietnam with the 173rd airborne of the united states army. he is also a purple heart recipient. mike has a reputation for problem-solving, reaching across the aisle. he had been a great asset for the county of sonoma. mike is also a gun owner and an avid hunter, i understand. i can think of no one better suited to serve as chair of the congressional gun violence prevention task force. congressman, thank you very much for your work, and welcome. >> thank you. [applause] thank you very much, and think you all for coming out tonight. this is the third town hall meeting on our efforts to prevent gun violence. input from the public is ex